Lake Pueblo State Park encompasses 4,600 acres at 4,900 feet elevation near Colorado City, with water temperatures reaching 75°F in summer months. Campgrounds in this area sit between the Wet Mountains and the eastern plains, creating varied camping conditions with temperature shifts of 30-40 degrees between day and night. Weather patterns often bring afternoon thunderstorms during summer months, particularly in July and August.
What to do
Hiking through mountain terrain: St Charles Campground at Lake Isabel connects to several trails including the Cisneros trail that leads to historic mining sites. "There is a great hike that knocked us out. Highly recommend!" notes a visitor to St Charles Campground.
Fish the reservoir: The large size of Lake Pueblo provides ample fishing opportunities away from other campers. "The lake is huge, with multiple boat docks, beaches, and places to swim and explore. If you like lakes, this is a great place to visit!" reports a camper at Northern Plains Campground.
Visit historic sites: Bishop Castle is located near several campgrounds and makes for an interesting day trip. "We used this campground to explore the surrounding area and Bishop Castle. Staff was very friendly and they had a lot things to do for the kids in the camp store/facility," writes a camper who stayed at Aspen Acres.
What campers like
Private sites with natural barriers: Juniper Breaks offers sites with good separation from neighbors. "The spots are well spaced so you don't feel on top of your neighbors. Lots of juniper trees and a natural like setting around the sites," mentions a visitor to Juniper Breaks Campground.
Dark skies for astronomy: Several campgrounds away from city lights provide exceptional stargazing. "At night the site was amazingly dark. This was my first real time seeing the Milky Way. It was so amazing I am glad my friend was there so I have backup to my story," shares a camper at Davenport Campground.
Covered picnic tables: Many sites feature shade structures over tables to provide relief from sun and wind. "The picnic shelters, at every site, are a nice protection from the winds and sun," explains a visitor at Arkansas Point Campground.
What you should know
Limited cell coverage: Service varies dramatically across the region with many campgrounds having no service. "No cell service with ATT but don't mind so much. Disconnect is not so bad," mentions a visitor to Aspen Acres Campground.
Water quality concerns: Some campsites have problematic water sources. "All fine for a night except we filled our tank with the most disgusting undrinkable water imaginable. I'd not come back for that reason," warns a camper who visited Aspen Acres.
Wind exposure: The open landscape means significant wind at many campsites. "The campsite is exceptionally windy so best not to pop-up a shade structure unless you want to watch it fly away," cautions a visitor to Arkansas Point Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Choose sites with playgrounds: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "The family has property in Colorado city and we still love to come to local mountain! Great fishing, clean, quiet, & plenty of space," says a frequent visitor to St Charles Campground at Lake Isabel.
Seek campgrounds with structured activities: Certain locations provide scheduled programming. "We took our kids (2, 5, & 7) to the junior ranger class they host at the visitor center almost every Saturday. They learned about boat safety and got free sunglasses and emergency whistles," shares a family at Juniper Breaks Campground.
Consider a glamping option for first-time campers: Luxury glamping in Colorado City offers a smoother transition for new campers. "We absolutely loved our glamping cabins for our first camping trip of the season," notes a visitor to Great Sand Dunes Oasis.
Tips from RVers
Check hookup locations before setting up: Some sites have unusual utility placement. "We only wish we had a longer power cable. Our port is at the back and the outlet was way up front. To reach, we had to set up near the front of the site which limited our parking," advises an RVer at Aspen Acres Campground.
Bring leveling equipment: Many sites require adjustment for comfortable setup. "Nicely spaced and sized level sites. Good views of the lake and sunrise/sunset," reports an RVer at Arkansas Point Campground.
Verify bathroom accessibility: Off-season travel may mean limited facilities. "Couldn't get the cable to work but that's probably me. There's also a nice playground and some interesting looking cabins in various styles," mentions a winter visitor to Pueblo South-Colorado City KOA.
